China reaffirms adherence to peaceful settlement of South China Sea disputes

BEIJING -- China on Tuesday reaffirmed its adherence to dialogue and consultation in settling the South China Sea issue.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei made the remarks at a routine press briefing in response to a question on whether a military confrontation is possible in the South China Sea.

He also said China would work with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to jointly maintain peace and stability of the region, while reiterating China's resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea.

With regard to the international arbitration of the South China Sea disputes, he repeated China's stance of non-acceptance of third-party dispute settlements or any imposed solution.

Since the Philippines unilaterally initiated the so-called "international arbitration," many countries and insightful people in the international community have shown support for China's adherence to dialogue and negotiation in resolving the South China Sea disputes, said Hong.

They have stood for the faithful fulfillment of relevant provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and expressed concern over the expansion and abuse of power by the Arbitral Tribunal, he said.

They believe the acts by the Philippines and the Arbitral Tribunal will severely affect the international legal order, which is not helpful to peace and stability in the South China Sea and will undermine cooperation under the framework of the DOC as well as the negotiation on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), Hong added.